TeamSnap Logo
Log inFind My Team
  • Products
    • Organizations logoClubs & Leagues

      For clubs, leagues & associations with multiple teams

      • Sports
      • Features
      • Get a demo
    • Teams logoTeams

      The easiest way to manage a team

      • Sports
      • Features
    • Tournaments logoTournaments

      Build and manage your events in a snap

      • Scheduling
      • Registration
  • Pricing
  • Company
    • About
    • Careers Hiring!
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Community Impact
    • Off-Season
    • Coaches’ Corner
    • Clubs & Leagues Resources
    • TeamSnap Updates
    • Help Center
    • API Docs
  • For Brands

Find My Team

Sign upLog in
Sign upLog in
BlogGeneral Sports
  • General Sports
  • Health and Safety
  • Coaching
  • Clubs & Leagues
  • Announcements
Featured image: Tips for Beginners: Basketball

Jun 06, 2022 • 4 min read

Tips for Beginners: Basketball

/images/teamsnap-badge.png
Celia Balf

Posted in:
  • General Sports

There is something special about bouncing a basketball for the first time, feeling the ball hit the blacktop and spring back up or the satisfaction of wrapping your fingers around its circumference and mastering the one-handed grip. Basketball is a game that is played for the swish and televised for the ball movement, hops, and incredible athleticism. When a young athlete is first getting started playing basketball, there are three things they should focus on, Peter Panousopoulos founder of Parkway Hoops a youth basketball program in Brooklyn, New York, told TeamSnap.

Consecutive Dribbling

“Dribble with both hands consecutively,” Peter said. “Count how many times you can keep your dribble and alternate hands and go for as long as possible.” Peter works with kids as young as 3-years-old and understands the excitement, but also how overwhelming bouncing a ball can be especially when it springs up fast and is bigger than some of the kids heads! “Once they learn the fundamentals of dribbling, like using your fingertips, they can start dribbling to music. Dribbling to a beat and rhythm can help you by dribbling to different cadences.”

Catching

Catching is another skill that can help you master the game. It doesn’t take much, “just throw the ball against the wall catch it. Start throwing it as fast as you can against the wall and graduate into catching with maybe one hand, left and right. Bounce it to the wall and try and practice also catching it over your head.” Don’t be afraid to get creative with it even that means going with making a catch with “one hand over your head, throwing the ball sideways, between your legs, just have fun.”

Shooting

“When you are beginning, the only thing that matters is making the shot,” Peter said. “Form will come later.” When a young athlete makes the first shot, that’s a milestone. It’s not easy for a small kid to find the power to throw the ball up in the air, over his or her head and make it in a basket. Peter talked to TeamSnap about some of the basic ways to make the shot. ” The basic things that go into making the shot are getting your hands under the ball, and shooting straight up. Follow through to the rim and make sure that your index and middle fingers go up. Once you make your first shot, how many in a row can you make? Pick multiple spots that you know you can make in a row.”

Future basketball players, take the time to practice consecutive dribbling, catching, and shooting. But, above everything else, find what it is about the sport that you enjoy. “I always ask a new player that I’m coaching, what do you like about basketball? Some of the responses have been making shots, being on a team, being with friends, dribbling, making a great pass, blocking shots,” Peter said. For any players just getting started, gravitate towards those things that you like. And for the parents of future basketball players, finding a well run program is crucial. Peter suggest to “Look for an environment that not only will teach the kid well, but has high-quality educators.”

Video drills, tips and techniques to help your youth basketball team score a slam dunk.

“When someone is starting out, you need a coach who is going to teach the kid, not necessarily teach them to win a game yet. You want the kid to be empowered and inspired to continue playing.”

Do you or someone you know need help managing their sports team or club? Sign up for a free 21-day trial today. Or check out our club and league solution, TeamSnap for Clubs and Leagues if your team is part of a larger sports organization.


Download our app

app-storegoogle-play

Share this post


Create Your Team Today!

It’s Free and Free is Good!

Sign Up Your Team!Free and Paid Plans Available
Products
Club or League Administrators
  • Get a demo
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Tournaments
  • FAQs
Coaches or Team Managers
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Tournaments
  • Get Started
Parents or Athletes
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Find My Team
  • Get Started
Sports
Clubs & Leagues
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Ice Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
Teams
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Ice Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • +100s more
Resources
  • Blog
  • Coaches’ Corner
  • Return To Play
  • Clubs & Leagues Resource Library
  • Skills & Drills
  • Press Releases
  • TeamSnap Updates
  • TeamSnap Help Center
  • Community
  • Why TeamSnap?
Company
  • About
  • CareersHiring!
  • For Brands
  • Partners
  • TeamSnap API
  • Responsible Disclosure Policy
  • Youth sports team and sports org app Apple App Store Logo
  • Youth sports team and sports org app Google Play Store Logo
  • social-media-facebook
  • social-media-twitter
  • social-pinterest
  • social-instagram
  • social-video-youtube
  • professional-network-linkedin
  • social-tiktok

TeamSnap Footer Logo

Copyright © 2005–2023 TeamSnap, Inc.

  • Sitemap
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy
  • Do not sell my personal information – CA resident only